The Dialogue between the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece and the Orthodox Ecclesiastical Community of Those in Resistance

Eighth Joint Statement

On Thursday September 6/19, 2013 in the hall of the church of St. Spyridon in Galatsion, the eighth meeting occurred of the committees for dialogue between the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece and the Orthodox Community of Those in Resistance.

All of the designated members of both committees were present - save His Grace, Bishop Ambrose of Methonē who was out of the country.

Firstly, the meeting was again centered on the Chronicle of the reaction of the Orthodox to the declining path of Ecumenism in Greece and particularly the calendar innovation, which is focused mainly on the period between 1958 and 1971.

The Committee of the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece, after searching its archives at 32 Kaningos Street, presented the evidence found (whatever could be found in the limited timeframe given for the conducting the investigations), the most important selections were read: encyclicals, letters and publications relative to subjects under investigation. A number of questions were asked by Those in Resistance about the ordinations of 1960 and 1962 and the later synodical developments.

Finally, an essential dialogue took place about the ways in which the dissociation between the two sides can be overcome. Once again Those in Resistance submitted specific proposals for further Synodal consultation on the part of the Church of the G.O.C. for the promotion of the request. The decision was renewed to complete the Chronicle of anti- ecumenism, a theological critique of Ecumenism (nature, bodies), and the issue of whether the ecumenist are within or without the Church were studied, as well as the nature of the objective union of the Church of the G.O.C. and those Orthodox in Resistance.

This very interesting discussion took five hours and took place in a spirit of up-building cooperation and mutual respect. The next Joint Meeting will take place on Thursday October 18/31, 2013 in the Monastery of Sts. Cyprian and Justina in Phylē, Attica.

“Trust ye not in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation.”
(Psalm 145:3)

We mustn’t have absolute trust in human beings for our salvation, no matter what dignity they have. Human beings are changeable. Today they are saints, tomorrow—deniers. Today—sinners, tomorrow—righteous. We must have absolute trust in God, and in Him we must base our hopes of salvation. “Blessed is he of whom the God of Jacob is his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God” (Psalm 145:5).
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Jonesboro is a town located near the Eastern border of Arkansas, with a population of approximately 60,000. From a human standpoint, it’s not the most likely candidate for a traditional Orthodox mission, but for an Orthodox Christian who orders his priorities around Christ and His Church, it makes perfect sense.
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